Mechanical musical instrument.



No. 833,995. A I SPATBNTBD 0m23.190s.

. s G. P.' BRAND. MECHANICAL- MUSICAL I'NSI'RUMEN'I..4

1 m wf:

. 1.1i ui.. 1V :i

in *dw uw N9. 833,995.l PATENTE'D ocr. z3, 190e,

' `CHP. BRAND;

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. AP'PLICATloNHLED 00126. 1900.

` 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

:lill Ll l u r m ated. by pneumatic pressure or exhaust PATENT OFFICE.

. Geenen Reni-inn; onsA'n FRANoisco, catwomanA',NiEoHANlcALMuslcAL'iNs-IRUMENT.'

y no. 833,995'.l

Specification of Letters Patent. i

Patented oet. a3, 190e.

" Application nei october ze, '1900. .serial No. Esi-,4.00.

'Toa/ZZ 'tl/7mm it may concern: Be it `known that L'GEonGE citizen oftheUnited'Sta'tesand a resident of` the city. and county ofSan' FranciscoState of ,.-Californiaf'have invented new and useful ImprovementsinMechanical l .\/Iusic' alv Instruments, of which the following isaspeciflcation.` y

invention relates to 'improvements made iny devices oiappliances' thatare operthrough the medium of a moving perforated. sheet to playmechanically a keyed'musical instrument', such as .a pianoor anorgan.

. improvement s, brieiiy stated are toguea different expression todifferent notesat the same moment ofy time, whereby Iam enabled to"obtain' the same or approximately vthe '20,y

` by mechanical means'as-are produced vliythe individual playerg'falso,to give eachindividual note or series. or combination 'of notes sameindividuality and variety: of expressionplayed at the same instant.dii-ferent degrees Lof owcr ranging from pianissimoto fortissimoseparately and'independentlyof other fnote'siin the scale and to obtainsuch range of expression in any-noteor combination 'of notes throughoutthe scale through the rnedium of a single perforated sheetand a singletracker-board. 1'- X K l' f-To suchfendsand obj@etsiiniysaidinven-vtionconsis'tsin Ycertain novel parts and comb ination of parts,"as'jhereinaiter described,

' part hereof.

and pointed out in the claims" at the end of the specification',yreference being had thereinto the accompanying drawings, forming alFigure 1 representsin elevation an arrangementof key-operating devicesyand pneumatic motors withactuating and controlling valves. Fig. 2isatop' view, partly 1n sectionjon an, enlargedl scale, ofthe tracker--board. Fig. .Sisaside elevation, on an enlarged! `scale 'and` generally`in longitudinal' A se'c tion ,fc` f l the-pneumatic valves that.control the exhaust' apertures, valves, and passages-` f Fig. 3?' is' a'sectionaldetail of one of the prin- .ci'palpneumatics a.' Fig. Li-isatop. plan of vthe valve-chest andnone 4of thepneumaticl motors, thetopofthe chest being partly f broke passages andthe connections inside; topplan of two sets o f multiplying-- .i valves I that are-interposedbetween the 1).BRAND, a'

tracker-board, ychannel and the exhaust-controlling valves of thepneumatics, the rear set of' the first-'mentioned valves being shownVyin section.l Fig. 6- is` a sideelevation of oneA f. setofmultiplying-valves and the exhaust- 'chest common to that set, theapertures ot the-valves and-exhaust-chest being shown inf? longitudinalsection. Fig.- 7 is afront view? of a .portion of' the tracker-boardwith the outer facebroken away to expose the channels within.l Fig. 84is an elevation in transverse section of fthe inclosing case, showingthe'chests and connections as the same are The 'objects sought to beattained by these arranged therein Jfor operation with theexhaust-bellows and conductors.

VIn the class of mechanical musical instrumore particularly thevv soundsare produced by thepercussiveaction of a iinger or striker upon the keyof the instrument operated by'a *device commonly known as a pneumaticmotor-7 .or a pneumat1c, to

vwhich the strikeris connectedV by levers and rods, the strokebeing-produced either by in Hating or by collapsing the pneumatic.. In

the present construction and application of my improvements themotorisoperated on the exhaust principle, because the salneis generallybetter adapted for piano-playing attachments; but applying theimprovements to reed-organs and instruments of kthat class the mechanismis better operated bypneumaticpressure.

In that part of the invention which 'coin-- prises means or devices, togive adierent expression to dnlfcrent notes that occur at the sameinstant the degree of force -or intensity of the stroke is regulated andmodified, first,'by, varying the 'area of the exhaustaperture ofthepneumatic-that actuates the lments' tov which these improvements relatestriker, 21nd,'. secondly, by varying the dis.-

tance vof the -strikerfronithe key of the instrument either-infv advanceofl the. stroke or at'the moment the striker beginsto descend.

In the presentv construction the first of the operationsi's effected bya pneumatic a', Figs. -1 and. 3, having'a plurality ofexhaustingapertures d e if g,

connected with the 4exhausting-chamber to collapse it and hav- IOOthrough one orincre of lwhich the pneumatic 1s ing yconnection also withthefjatmos here through a common '1 airinlet 68,' t ugh which theniotoris iniated.

The valve controlling each separate exhausting-aperture is itselicontrolled by a set or systemoi what is termed multiplyingvalvespneumatically operated by the vari.-

ations in pressure on vopposite sidesy of the valves, which variationsot' pressure are produced and regulated through the medium of a separatechannel in the tracker-board for each valve. Q

The 'valve ol each exhausting-aperture is held to its seat by the excessof atiri'osph'eric pressure on the back of the valve, due to theldifference of area between the tace of the valve directly exposed tothe pressure and the Iopening beneath the valve, and, on the other hand,the exhausting aperture is opened by reversing the atmosphericconditions on opposite sides ol the valve, which is effected by cuttingoii' the pressure that holds i the valve toits seat and opening thevalve by the pressure beneathl it. The valves 'n employed for thispurpose are of the kind known as "puit-valves, consisting of a block orbody somewhat larger than the outlet it cov-ers and a diaphragm 5S, of`flexible material, such leather or rubber, securedon the top o'r thebody and attached to the back or per part oi the chamber behind the'valve d inclosing an opening 59, With` which the z of the valve is inline. The diaphragm tous serves to retain the valve in line with theapertiue' it controls and also allows limited movement of the valvetoward and away vtrrfnithe seat, Whileit closes communication 5 het-Weenthe chamber over the valve and the onein which the valve Works. Theproper degree of pressure behind the valve'nl to hold the same normallyclosed is obtained by admitting atmospheric pressure to the chamber 59through an air Way or passage having a separate port L tor each valve nand a valve i controlling it. This valve i is opened l'a'ni'l closed byputlcdiaphragms, which in turn is `held normally open by atmosphericpressure admitted behind the valve and is closed by the pressure of theatmosphere against the valve-disk 'i the moment the pressure is reducedor removed from above the putt-valvel s. To this space behind the valves air is admitted to oppose the atmospheric pressure against the vvalvei, through a tubular conductor t, u, c, or w, terminating in avalve-chamber2l` at or contiguous to the tracleiboard y60. To thislast-mentioned chamber atmospheric pressure is admitted or is out ol'byineansot a balanced valve 35,' Fig. 5,'haying atmospheric pressure inviront and exhaust behinditi' This valve is itseli' actuatedii'iohedirectionfto admit `:itinospheric pressure tothe chamber 4e byproducing an increasein the degree' otI exhaust behind the valve, whileit is moved in the opposite direction to close the outlet to 'theatmosphere by increasing thepressure behind the valve. These' operationsare effected through la channel in the trackerboard connected with theexhaust space or compartment in which the controlling-valve works, theair being admitted to or cut oli' from the channel in the usual Wayv bythe traveling music-sheet 61, as Will be more fully explainedhereinafter.

Every valve 1L controlling an exhaustingaperture is actuated andcontrolled from a separate channel inthetracker-board, and the channelsrequired for the Whole number of exhausting-valves of the pneumatic arearranged in close order in the tracker-board, so as to be opened orclosedin diiierent combinations oi two or more valves by making theslits or perforations in the music-sheet ot the required width. Varyingthe area of the exhaust-outlet of the pneumatic a in this mannerproduces different degrees of force or intensity in the blow given bythe key-operating device, and many different eilects are thus producedin every notel independently of all the other notes in the scale.

The valves n when seated on the exhausting-apertures d e f g haveatmospheric .pressure on both sides, but are held to their seats by theexcess of pressure upon their back or bottom faces, due to thedifference in area between the exhausting-aperture and the .back face ofthe valve, and, on the other hand, the valve is opened and held off itsseat by cutting off the atmosphere from the chamber 59 behind the valveand connecting the same with a channel 66. Communication is establishedbetween the exhaust-chest 66 and the space 59 above the valve n byclosing the valve 'isb y the action ot the puff-diaphragm valve s, oratmospheric pressure is admitted to the space behind the valve n by theopening of said valve i and the closing of the puffthe port h to thevalve-chest 64. Its accompanying controlling-valve andconnectingpassages are duplicates in construction of the other valves inthe chest, so thatl a description of the, set of valves governing oneexhaust, as d, will answer for all`the remaining valves. A

In-the present application of these improvements the pneumatic c takesair from the atmosphere outside the chest through'an inlet-aperture 68in a compartment p, upon which the pneumatic is seated, In the top `ofthe same'compartment are the apertures d, e, f, and g, opening into anexhaust-chamber 63 above. The valve n, controlling the outlet d, isattached to the bottom of the chamber 59 immediately under a'passage 64by its lexiblediaphragm 58 surrounding that opening, and that confinedspace 1s connected With'a second .compartment or chamber 62, by means ofwhich either. atmospheric presdiaphragm s, the compartment 62 `Abeingopen to the atmosphere outside byiway of lroo IIC

. vrieaees stuefi'r suctionjisifbrought togbearbehind the` valve by.opening and'closin'g v thev puppet- Q Coinmunica'tion is establishedbetween the Y 5 fexhaustfchest766' and 'the space 59 above the Vgl een'z by raming the Vputt-diaphragm valve:

s', l thereby ,closing thevalve, or atmospheric pressure;is'adniitted tothe space behind the*- Valve n by opening-the 'yalve t and closing thediaphragnisz the compartment 62 being t entaille atmosphere outsidebyfway of l tij-eports!)j and the valve-chest 6 5. Trachgvalye t 'ssecured' to a diaphragm- 1; valves `b.3 "a st'ern common toboth, the diav duagnrbeingf attached to the top ot the eX-i heet 661. and beingysituated immediunderneathan aperture formed thereon" fu and ertormingthe function ot a putt'4 to ophthe 'valvethy 'pneumatic pressure de-vvtbrough' an air-conduit" t; im), or The r aphragmwalve s also controlsthe port s be; :tween the. exhaust-chest 661 and the chamber -62underneath.. The duct t, u, o, o'r w whenv iopenedffto he outsideatmosphere transmits the-pressure,thereof to the space above thediaphragm s 'and' opens communication' thronglrtljie passage h betweenthe space 59 v aboye the diaphragm 58 andthe outside at-``ruospherei,'thereby holding the valve n to its l seat; i

-' .The pressure of the exterior atmosphere:

applied against the face of the valve u from beneath when the aperture68 is'open is op posed the pressure that is admitted 35A thrfugh the'port L andv passage 64against the back t they valve, and the superficialarea of the',b acl. being greater than thctace the valvenfs held toitsseat aslong as the con- Aductorft is ,open to the' atmosphere` On theother hand.,when the passage t is closed the pressureon the back of theputl or diaphragm valve s is removed and the lower disk 't islifjlaedand held to its seat by the pressure against Athe' lower face ofAthat valve. The result'ofthis is 'to cut o't the pressure on.

fthe back of; the valve n and establish coml f muncation with theexhaust-chest 66 alone, Vso that the valve n is thenacted on byatmosphericrpressure from beneath. The eilect of, this isto insure aquick and delicate action of fthe valve. and make the same responsive tocomparatively light degrees of pressure.

lThe inlet-valve r is common to all the ex.- haustingvalves, and thesame is operated by each Valve t separately, as well as by different lcombinations of two or more valves t, to admit atmosphere-pressure tothe pneumatic a when the exhausts' are closed and to cut off'thatpressure at the 'moment when any one or more ot theeXhaust-apertures may be OPG/tied@ I ver, controllingI the outlet 6fv,is v 1,( at nneeted b'yits stem to a'diaphragrn 67, 1nclosed 'in Y'a'chamber 69 at one end of the co rnof, partment p, andthe confined spacem aboves partme'nts 62 by separate tubes"x 'in communication with vth,of pressure ontheJ upper`f partment 62 over the end yott the pneumatica is immediatelyen iaupst/'d`v the diaphragm 67 is connected b tubefmandp'assagemzwiththe ey l 4, the' space below the `di wat partrnen't 63of the Valvet tube 17. The difieren-ce i valve r and the diaphragm,

phragm 67 .to hold the valv mediately on closing any 'of this pressurelis cut oli iro phragm 67 sothat the pressgu pliere against thediaphragm aperture. t, ,Q

A lap-valve 7c. is. arranged nehccom "l be necting said"c'oinpartmenthecpa sage m2 for the purposepl clos gthe uba automatically by the air'ressuA to its seat is sufficient tovred upon the diaphragm 67,

the valve fr, and as the val with the particulary eXhaju trolled by thevalve i, whichh the eXhaust-valve'n gradually vlet itsy seat by gravity.yDur-ing{.thi the tension in the passage pil-,and t 69 is equalizedthroughithge vaper through which the-steruoptlie r'p jects, therebycausing the prie u rnatieu@l t main collapsed until the, reopeningoflvalve Yt. t*

The apertures d e f g ai a vol di ent varea in order to. furnish-asgreaterpuumber of exhaust-outlets of dil'lierentfjaasjby. nperaf'ting two or'more of the valvesin varyingeor; bin-ations at the sameinstant than could ,be obtained by the use ot. theisa1ne3l'1-1jtnlbefofapertures having equal areasi Each of the conductorsitr/Jenu teL in anindividual chamberror,conipar in a Valve-chest 21 ad'acentgtQnthe tboard, and each one is supplied witha the outside. through 'aninletpportinthaside ,of the chest. 21,`said portibeing;controlled by abalanced disk valvel 35. lniadditioir to tlre pressure admitted throughthat inletg the 4- connecting-passage communicates `lwith `aneXhaust-coinpartment43, A, 5011.tIQlled `byjtlre same valve` l x 'f sly. :141,-: i

In one position the v alvecu municati'on between theoxh'austgt one ofthe set of conductcrsltat n connected with it and opensfthepassag of the-atmosphere7 and inthe-'other positionfvit reverses theconditionsand-connects the Qonductor t, u', Q2,- 01 w. with the: compartmentgl?)and .the corresponding A' dianphr'ag In s of: Athe mentioned puff' 70 isone of a set of valves controlling ports that decrease in area and areinterposed between the channel in the vtracker-board 'and the'valve 35,.controlling theinlet to the conductor leading tothe lvmain valve-chest.In this lprimaryA chest as .many valves are combined in series as may befound necessary. to give an initial-pressure inlet of the 1smallest areapracticable in the end of the tracker-board. In the `resent constructionfour valves, each contro ling anA inlet for the atmosphere outside'thechest, are Varranged in a graduated series lfin a common valve-chesthavinV a separate compartment ,for each valve an an exhaust-chamber 37common to al1 the valve-compartments, the Whole number forming. amultiplyingvalve. series having the peculiar feature and function ofgradually increasing the area of the primary inlet through the channelin the tracker-board until therequired degree of pressure is obtainedto. operate lthe valve i,

controlling the exhaust-passage, by the ini= tial atmospheric pressureadmitted through the inlet-aperture in the tracker-board, 'and the wholeset is arranged in al single chest. mounted on or connected with acommon exhaust-chamber.

The valve-chest 21 is divided by transverse partitions into as manysections as there are pressure inlets and valves employed, and eachsection is divided by longituidnal partitions, as shown in Fig. 5, intothree lines or series of compartments, of which the middle ones, 27 3841 43, are continuously opento the exhaust-chamber 37 beneath throughapertures in the floor of the compartments, while the two outercompartments of. the section are in communication With the 'atmosphereoutside the chest through inletports in the outer Walls of said chest,said ports being controlled b v puppet-valves 29 3l 33 35. (hie of thoseouter compartments in each section is also connected with the middlecompartment through a. port 18 32 34 36 in the dividing inner wall, andbot-h that port and the inlet-port in the outer Wall are controlled bya' valve composed of the outer disks before mentioned and a disk 72 onthe same stem operating by a short move.- ment to open one port andclose theother. 'lhe valve-stem is attached to the button 30 ol` a pull'or diaphragm 70. covering an opening 71V* in the partition ol`the.exhaust-couipartment and having one siiltixposid to the exhaust andthe opposite side to the condition or degree of pressure existing in thesaches outer passage ,when the latter is opened to the atmosphereoutside the chest. The 'construction and arrangement ci these passagesand valves are the same ati the sections of lthe chest excepting in thetiret two sections of the valve-chest-nearest the traclr-boerd, in whichthe outer compartments behind the diaphragme of the valves are incommunication with the exhaust-chest. By virtue .of this constructionthe actuating-diaphragm of each valve is Abalanced by the exhaust onboth sides as longas the compartment behind the diaphragm is cut oilfrom theoutside atmosphere, and the outer disk or head of the valve isthen held to its seat on the inlet-port'v by the atmospheric pressureoutside, and this condition remains as long as the inlet at thetracker-boardis closed to the atmosphere by the music-sheet. @On theother hand, the equilibrium between'the two exhaust-compartments in thesame valvesection--as, for example, in the two spacer 24 27 in the/firstsection-is broken by admitting the outside atmospheric pressure'to thecompartment behind the diaphragm v through the passage .25 from pipe 45and that pressure on one side in conjunction with the exhaust on theopposite side of the diaphragm being greater than the pressure boardchannel' is uncovered. Through this opening the outside pressureisadmitted also into the compartment behind the diaphragm 3() ofthe nextvalve 3 l, as the adjoining spaces or compartments are connected throughan aperture 74 in the cross-partition between them. The valves operatein this manner one upon the other throughout the series, producing agradual increase of pressure by increasing the area of the airinlets andthe exhaust-a ertures progressively until the required egree of power isobtainedv in the last section of the valvechest to shut ofi theatmospheric pressure and [open the communication between theexhaust-passage 44 and the exhaust-chest 43. In the last section of themultiplyingvalve chest the inlet andv exhaust valves 35 72 are settooperate contrary to those in the remaining sections, whereby thepressureinlet stands normally operi and the exhaustaperture iselosed,tn'hile the other valves hold the contrary positions as long 'asthe channel of the tracker-board 6() is closed. This construction isillustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, Where the multiplying-'valveseries.` is composed of four sections with air inlet and exhaustapertures of gradually-increasing areas, giving an accumulation of powerthrough which the atmospheric pressure that is admitted thrtuigh aminute aperture in the nose or end ot the ehaunel-htmrd titl isregulzuly increased through the action of one valve upon the other inascending 'against the valve-disk 29 the port governed 95 lby that valveis opened Whenever the tracker- IOO IIO

iig

the last valve to 'operate quickl y the `diaorder' untill the requiredarea is attained 'at phragm-valve s, through the medium of which firstvalve, connects With the channel inthe an aperture 26 and space 24.5 OntheIoppoQ tracker-board 60 and is in c'ommu'nicatior'i also withv theexhaustphamber 37 throug'h site side of `the same diaphragm the compartment 27 opens into the chamber' 37 through f an aperture in {the bottom,and thesame' comp artment has vcommunication; with 'the outerpassagethrough the port 28, controlledlbythe valye-disk72. An aperture74 in the Wall between the' same outer'pa'ssa'gev andthe similaroutlet-passage behind the"diaphragm' of the second valve 31 connectsthetv'vo passages together, 'so that atmospheric pressure is'. admittedbehind the second diaphragm through the port controlled the irst'valv'eIn the samey Way thepressur'e istransferred from one sideo the diaphragmto the other in the several sections 'throughoutfthe series by theopening or kclosing'movement of one 'pressure-.inletvalva and thusvchangingv the conditions of pressure or'exha'us't onfopposite sides ofthe diaphraginof'the' next adjacent valve. In avalve thus constructed itwill beseen thatthe atmospheric-inlet valve will beheld to its seat byatmospheric pressure as long as that pressure exceeds the vdegree oftension in the middle compartment;

-but .as soon as the sp ace'behind the'actuating The numb'eroimultiplying-valves"series.

diaphragm is' opened to the atmosphere the lpressure'against theyouterface of the inlet-V valve is opposed by theair admitted "behind j thediaphragm, and the loW tension in the Y vmiddle compartment then.allows' the atmos- .thereuponcloses the port 28;

pher ic p ressure' to operate the'valve lthat 'required to-operat'e'separately and independ# ently the four exhausting-valves fn, coveringports d e fg 'ofthe pneumatic motor, 'are arranged one above ,anotherupon'individual `:exhaust-chests'37'in convenient position `between-themainvalve-chest and the trackerboard 60, and the chests 21 are connectedby the pipes or conductors tu uw with the -sev-*- eral compartmentsbehind the diaphrag'ms connected with the valves i inthe main chest-'and by tubes 45 46 47 48 'With the four channels 51 52 53 54 in thetrackerboardthe latu ter tubes being connected individually to the firstchamber of the'primary valve 29 in each chest.

The channels terminating in' thev trackerboard are arranged incloserelation and at such short intervals apart that the Whole 'numbercan beiI uncovered to 'adr'n'itftheqexta` rior-atmosphere'through arelatively-"narrow slit not exceeding in Width the' 'slitus'ed `intheordinary musicgsheet at the present `time in instruments ofthis'cla'ss.' I nipracticelthe,

.upon the key "are produce" b vdistance between thestri @either yinadvance' 0i.'y 'itshnovern'entft ar the' keyv or at some point'thernbeforefitz is# brought fin 'Contact withfth alsefby checking '.orretarding 'thi--str'oke orffimo'v ment ofthe'leve'rtowhich'the"strikerlisiatL tached. These ei'e'cts are'produced through the medium of auxiliary pneumaticstmountsig; ed '.on'the valve-chest of' tllreprinipaltjpneu matic or'in proximity ther'eto;so asitjo' behelpen f; t. eratred directly from the sfatn'eexhaust-chest1: orv conductor leadingv from? the "iexfhtrust-heli.-il 'lows orthrough passages connecting-theau iliary pneumatic therewithffThese`=add1\ tina'ldevices to modify thecharactenohthaA'strokea'r'e'illustrated in the'z-detai1s',,Figsui i and 4 of thedrawings; Theg pneu-matic be ing'with an exhaust compartmente79-iby a;port 77- andalso 'with thefouteratmosphere; 4through a port'78, takesinair. Whengthelatterg .port is uncovered; :Theseaffportssi arlcongcovering *theouter 'port :afgdikz'i :QIlfhc -same' stemcontrolling theeh'allSt-pontV Thevv `movementsgot that valveyaraproduced het variationsin the pressureibneopposite sldes ...at chamber-43 in themultiplyingvalvdh brought into communicationlwfi'th th of the diaphragmS() through th established When-'the port :valve,isopenedV The result ofstitute an exhaust for atniosphe -up'ori thatsideof the diaphrag-niSO :l

theadmission-valve g to c lose b y'fat pressure- The movement ofthe.

`being mounted overa channel==tconnect195 f .f

trolled'by la puppet-values '-,ffhavinghmdisk Io produced by itsalternate inflation and collapse operate on a stop-lever 10, ivotedat'12 .cn-a fixedsupport and attache to apost 15 i 4'on the head .of thepneumatic'b Anadjustable stop 13 inthe free end of thelever 10 restsdirectly under the. outer end of the lever 1', actuated by the princi alpneumatic, and by-contact with that en of the lever it fraises'or lowers,the end of the striker-lever 5 to a .greater or less extent, accordingto the inflation or defia'tioncf the pneumatic b.

By that means the finger 7 on the free end of the lever 5 is set towardor away from the'key .a greater or lessdistancevand-the length ofthe''stroke is lvaried accordingly. This 4adjustnient may be effected eitherin advance of the downward movement of the striker orA during"themovement of its descent by uncovering the .controlling-channel? 56lin the ltracker- 'board in proper time'with relation to theother 1channel or channels that are brought into play,4 to actuate 'thepneumatica, in which -case the admission of air through the trackerboardchannel 56 and duct y acts through the` valve g to deiiate the pneumaticb, thereby raising the free ends'of the levers 10 and 14, so that theyprotrude into'the path ot the lever 1 and retard its action. Themovement ofA the lever 1 at such time also regulates or modifies thelength of movement ofthe principalpneumatic, because the lever 1 is--pivotally attached at 3 to the lpost 8 of the pneumatic. An additionalstop-lever 14 is sometimes employed to check or control lthe' movementofthe lever 1, and thereby further modify the characterof the stroke givenby the lever --as, for example, for cushioning or checking the movementof the lever 1 to produce piano effects. This lever 14 is piv- ,Oted toa iixed support 16 and is pivotally'attached at the out-er end to thepost 15 of t-he 20 on theouter end'.

of ,the principal'pneuinatic-has a shoulder 81y pneumatic b. I Thecharacter of the blow made by the striker is also furtheriiiodilied by achec'kor retarding device consisting of a'- lever 1S, pivoted at 1Q to afixed support on th'c principal valve-chest and carryingr a stop Thehead ot' the post 8 projecting over and in line with the stop 20 on theouter end of the lever 18, and the opposite end of thc lever isatt-ached to t-he post 9 on the head of a pneumatic motor c, so as tothrow upward the stop 20 to meet theshouldci" on the post 8 whenever thelauxiliary pneuiiiat-icc is collapsed by connection with the exhaust.The action of this stop-lever on the lever 1 has the eil`ect to retardthe movement of the lever in i ts dowiistroke, because the principalpneumatic u in its collapsing movement compelled to pull againstthe.

pneumatic c, to vwhichthe lever 18 is coiiiiected. `Thislast-iiieiitioiiedpneumatic motor c is mounted on a chest 82, to whichair is admitted to inflate the pneumatic, through a port controlled by apuppet-valve 11, and thc said-chest is connected with anexhaust-chainber 86 ,through 'a port 84 in the dividing-Wall.

A disk valve 85, iixedoii the stem of the valve 11', controlstheexhaust-port- 84 and opens the chamberv82 tothe exhaust 86 when theinletfort 83 is closed, the valve being operated y a-diaphragm 88 on theback of the valve-disk '85. Atmospheric pressure is admitted tothe-space behind the diaphragm 88 through'ac'onductor y, leading froma'sepai rate multiplying-valve chest 21 at the tracker board, inaddition lto those that control the v4.actuationof the striker andmodifyits' stroke.

. 'The pneumatic `motors a b c diti'er from those' used in mechanicalmusical instruments of thisy class in having the movable board or.hea'd90 united to the stationary board by a collapsible diaphragm 91 ofuniform Width on a'll'sidesby virtue of which the movable headmaintaining practically a horizontal position iin its risingand fallingmotions or part connecting the pneumatic with the gives'a dil-rectvertical 'movement the post lever or part to be actuated and applies thevpower always in a vertical direction. Thus the mot-ion is alwaysuniform for the entire superiicial surface of the head, and in thecollapsing movement the weight of the head is with and is not opposed tothe collapsing force. A pneumatic of this construction is particularlysensitive to variations in pressurel and exhaust and is quite delicateand rapid in its action. y

ln the complete instrument to which these improvements as abovedescribed are applied lv alve chests 1 are coiiii/.fcted hv pipes iocommon exhaust-chests 9G 97, which are in turn connected with thcconductors 05 'o v pipes 9S 99.

A pedal-operatinglever'100, actuated h; :i pneumatic 102 throughcomiecting-lever 1o?, and rod 104. is attached to the back ol' the case,the connection with the exhaust-hcllou's being made b v a conductor 105through a valve-( haiiiber 106. lia-ving an iiilct toi' the atmospherecontrolled h v a puppet-valve 'lhis valve is thc f ouiitci'part ol thcpressure-inlet valves employed iii the valvechests ofthe principalpiicumatics. li is operatedxiii the same manner also through a diaphragm.orn puil' and a tube s, comici-1mg the space behind thc. diaphragm witha con- ICO trolling-.valve 35 72.- in a separate chest y21 at thetracker-board," By means of this either pressure or exhast istransmitted through the conductor e, 'and the valve y10-7. is opened orclosed.

. The pedal-operatingV attachment is secured to the case by 'anadjustable bracket 108', so constructed as to permit both vertical andlateral adjustment of the pedaling-leverl tosuitldifferent styles .ormakes of pianos..

' The key-actuating levers orstrikers5'extendhoriZontallyrom the-.body'of the case to'lie over and at a shortdistance from the keys,'the topof the'case being carried over the Whole'setto incl'ose them 3on theltopand nponthe sides.v

The rollersfor the note-sheet. are provided,` With bearings in the u perpartiof the. case, and provision is made fior operating thesame to Windthe sheet .from one rollery upon the other in usual manner of.operati-ng the notesheetl in instruments of. this class. Motive poweriorAthis purpose -isusuallyk derived from the princi al bellows -11.0 ofthe instruy ment; but as t e construction o such operatingmeans forms nopart of the present in verition a detailed description is considered l yv In amechanical musi Pneumatic motor having exhausting-outlets `Havingthus ullydescribed invention,

..What Ifclaim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,ise A lca linstrument7 a .lapse of the'motor. l. y ,v v

o motor for musidal instru# 3. A pneumati ments having a plurality ofeXhausting-out lets, and means .controlled by a tracker-board and a.note-sheet forl opening said outlets singly and in varying combinationsof two or more outlets. i

' 4. In a pneumatic motor for musical instruments a plurality, ofexhausting-apen tures of differentA areas having separate con-`trolling-valves, and means for operating said .valves in varyingcombinations to produce an exhausting-outlet of greater or less extentof area. `v

5. In a. mechanical musical'instrument, a pneumatic motor havinga--pl'urality of eX- hausting-a ertures ofvarying areas, acontrolling-va ve to each outlet and pneumatic means actuating eachv'alve independently.-

and .controlled by a separate channel in a uncover two or more ofthesaid channels at thesame instant.

pneumatic motor having a plurality .of valvecontrolledinlet-a ertu're,'.in'eans" for actuat..

through the medium offa Atr'aifeliiig note-'sheet Ina mechanical musicalinstrument a controlled exhaust-apertures 'and .'avalvefje..

. 179-91.' ing said 'exhausting-'valves and inlet-valve and .atracker-board having a separate chan? nel for each yalve-actuatingmeans-f; Y 7..l The combination, with .a pneumatic motor, of anexhausting and inlating passage?.

having a .valvecontrolled 'pressure-'mlet', a`

plurality of exhausting-apertures,*pneumat- 4ically-acti'iated valves tosaid eXhausting-apertures and to said pressurefin'let and means..

for automatically controlling and actuating said-valves. y I .8.- Avalve-chest, `for a 'pneumatic motor; having a passage communicatingWith the. at-r mosphere through a valve-controlling'inlet,

rality of aperti'ires a neumaticallyfoperated .valve controlling each)ertures, a compartment behind 4the pneumatic of each-valve, apassageiconnectin'g of'said exhausting-apa said "compartment'with ,achamber/Which is y in communication alternately' Withthe outeratmosphere and 4With/ an exhaust-chamber.gx

through separate ports, a valvefcontroll'ng l said ports and operatingto.close'one'portA andf operi-the other whereby the ressure is ad.l

mitted'to cris-cut off from t e 'backfof the.' L

exhausting-valve according to the directionin which t. pneumatic meansoperated by a channel in'a said controllingvalve.` A-

e controllingaklve is moved, and- L1 OO tracker-board and. anote-.sheet.for'actuating-.- y

' 9. In `aria-ttach'ment for. playing a ianoqor .a similar keyedinstrument, theoom ination. u

of a striking device 'for eachulkey,` a pneu; lmatic motor actuatingthesame,A and means controlled byja tracl'rer -boardz and a'rnoteysheet forvai'fyingthe-length of; movement of the striking device ofA each key tograduate -i 'io` and independently of the corresponding dethe actionthereof upon thel key separately.

vicesi'of the other keys,

10,. In an attachment for playing a piano or similar instrument, apneumatic motor having exhausting-outlets Aof diierent areas yoperatingto' graduate ,the force of stroke thereof, means connecting the motorWith a key-striking device, and .means operated by a tracker-board andnote-sheet lorvarying thecxhaust. y

11. The, combination with the principal pneumatic a/and its valve-chestand controlling-valves, the striker-lever 5, and means connecting themovable head of the pneumatic With the striker; of the auxiliary pneu'-inatic b, stop-lever 10 attached to the head tli/reof, and pneumatic,means controlled by 'traokenboard and a note-sheetadapted to`1 achannel in a tracker-board and a note- .devices, having a pluralitysheet for operating the auxiliary pneumatic with relation to the .princi)al pneumatic, as described, toivary the le'ngtih4 of stroke of thestriker-lever.

12. The combination With the principaly pneumatic, a striker-lever 5 andmeans con.- nectmg the lever with the movable head of the pneumatic; ofthe auxiliary pneumatic b,

vsto -levers 10,y 14, mean's connecting the sai levers with theheado the'auxiliary pneumatic', and means lactuating the principal pneumatic andauxiliary' pneumatic through the medium of separate channels in thetracker-board anda note-sheet.

18. In a' pneumatic action for an automatic ormechanical musicalinstrument or player; a pneumatic motor for each of a se-l ries of thesound-producing devices kof a musical instrument; a tracker having apluralityof apertures, comprising a separate group for eachsound-producing device; the' `neumatic motor having# a pluralityofloutets with exhaustingva ves an, inlet to reinate the m'ctbr, havinga valve normally openand means for closing all ofthe 'outlets when theinlet is opened.

14. In'a pneumatic action Afor an automatic or mechanical mus-ical.instrument or player; a pneumatic motor for each of a soriesof thesoundreducing devices of the in strument;` a trac (er having a pluralityof apertures, comprising a separateg'roup for each sound-producingdevice, and a perforated music-sheet therefor,

the pneumatic motor for any. one

orl the sound-producing of exhaustingoutlets with valves therefor; aninlet-valve normally opened 'tracker and a perforated music-sheet, foro'p'- erating the exhaust-valves 'singly andin varying combinations oftwo lor more valves.

15. A pneumatic key-motor, having a plurality of exhaust outlet-valves.:inlet means for inflat-ing. the motor; and means for cutting oil' theinflating supply of air When any one or more of the outlet-valves areopen.

16. A pneumatic key-motor, having a plup rality of exhaust-valves: aninlet inlatingvalve; said inllatingvalve being helld closed A ,pneumatictrackergya collapsible l Apneumatic key-motor, having a dplurality ofexhaust 'outlet-valves controlle' maticl tracker; the motor normallyinflated and opcnto the outside air and the eXhaust-- valves closed; areimlating-valve; 'to be collapsed by the opening of combined number of'the exhaust-valves;4 'and reini'lated by the reiniating-valve' when theexhaust-valves are closed.

' 19.- A pneumatic tracker; a pneumatic key-motor having a pluralityy ofexhaust/outlet-valves controlled by a plurality of. apertures in thepneumatic tracker; and an in- ',flating-valve, to act in' combinationlwith any said motor and means controlled by the one, or combined numberof the exhaust outlet-valves.

20. A pneumatic tracker; a pneumatic key-motor, having a plurality4 orexhaust- Ioutlets for collapsing the motor, controlled by a plurality oftracker-meansyandian'in- Hating-valve acting in common with one and allof the exhaust-valves.

21. "Phe combination with the pneumatic, 'and .a striking therewith, ofan auxiliary pneumatic, a checking-.lever having a stop on the head ofthe pneumatic, said 'lever being attached to the auxiliarypneumatic, andpneumatic ,means yadapted'l to operate the principal pneumaticand thesaid auxiliary pneumatic throughthe medium of separate channels in atracker-board and a note-sheet.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal.

GEORGE P. BRAND.

Titnessesz prin-icipal EDWARD E. OsBoRN, M. REGNER.

any one orI by a corl, responding number of apertures inthe pneudeviceconnected

